Lenovo IdeaPad Lynx K3011 review

Lenovo makes a variety of tablets working each Windows 8 and Windows RT, in addition to some cheaper Android tablets too. However, the new Lynx is a prime-of-the-vary Windows eight model that focuses on stylish design and entertainment features.

Screen

The Lynx definitely makes a superb first impression in the market, with the 11.6-inch tablet measuring just 9.5mm thick and weighing 640g – about 20g lighter than the newest 9.7-inch iPad.

It doesn’t have the extremely-high definition show of the Retina iPad, however the IPS panel gives a really vivid and vibrant picture with its native 1366×768 resolution – so vivid, the truth is, that we had been capable of flip the brightness all the way down to about forty p.c and nonetheless get a superb, clear picture whereas watching streaming video throughout our battery assessments.

Build Quality

Nonetheless, closer inspection does reveal just a few small weaknesses. The again panel seems to be constituted of fairly light-weight plastic, and the buttons and port covers organized across the edge of the machine feel a bit flimsy, so the Lynx may is not what we might name sturdy. The audio system also sound rather skinny and tinny, though there are each headphone and micro-HDMI connectors accessible if you want to hook it as much as audio system or a bigger screen.

Efficiency

The Lynx is powered by a twin-core Intel Atom processor working at 1.8GHz. That’s a netbook-class processor, so the truth that it scored solely 1415 when operating the PCMark 7 benchmark is hardly shocking.

Nevertheless, that’s according to comparable Atom-based mostly gadgets such as HP’s Envy X2 tablet, and it’s completely ample for fundamental duties such as internet browsing and a spot of work in Word or Excel.

The Lynx additionally feels smooth and responsive when utilizing its contact screen controls, however the main drawback of the Atom processor is that it supports a most of 2GB of memory.

The Lynx may battle with more demanding duties, due to the processor and RAM, so it isn’t fairly a substitute for a traditional laptop computer for critical work. Don’t anticipate to edit and render HD video in document time, for instance.

It’s just a little mild on storage too – nearly 27GB of the 64GB strong-state storage is taken up by Home windows itself, which solely leaves you about 37GB on your personal recordsdata. Thankfully, there’s a micro-SD slot that can can help you add one other 32GB storage if you want to.

The Atom processor additionally depends on the outdated Intel GMA built-in graphics, which implies that your gaming exercise will most likely be restricted to informal video games similar to Angry Birds.

Nevertheless, the modest processor does imply that battery life is excellent – we bought a full eight hours of streaming video out of the Lynx, so it should definitely see you thru a long train or plane journey.

Keyboard dock

Just like the HP Envy X2, the Lynx can be used with a keyboard dock that features a pair of USB 2.0 ports in addition to a second battery that can double the eight-hour battery life. The keyboard is pretty sturdy and cozy to make use of, with a full-measurement set of keys which have an honest quantity of journey. Nevertheless, the trackpad may be very small – simply 75x40mm – and the hinge mechanism that lets you connect the Lynx to the keyboard is surprisingly stiff and inelegant.

Value

We had been upset to see that Lenovo’s web site lists the Lynx tablet by itself for a hefty £800, and we confirmed with Lenovo that the optionally available keyboard dock will set you again an extra £120.

We’ve seen the Lynx for sale on-line with the keyboard bundled in for round £600, although, so it’s value purchasing round to be sure you get the tablet and dock together.

HP’s Envy X2 has a really similar design and specification, however is best constructed. It has simply dropped in value to £699 including the keyboard dock, but when your funds won’t stretch that far, the Lynx – with its keyboard bundled – for £600 is an effective deal.